A Gallup Korea poll on November 25 showed 37 percent for Lee and 43.5 percent for Roh right before their election campaign (canvassing) started, but recently support has fallen. Media Research and Korea Research polls also showed a similar trend, contradicting the past when the support for major candidates rose with floaters decreasing around the voting date.

Experts said the unattached voters decreased by about 10 percent with election interest suddenly rising after Roh's unification with independent lawmaker Chung Mong-joon, but the number of floaters has recently increased by about 15 percent.

In particular, the percentage of floaters in their 50s and 60s increased to 20 percent from 10 percent right before registration and by region Chungcheong Province saw floaters increase sharply. Media Research official Kim Ji-yeon said the number of undecided would remain at around 15 percent.

Kim said third party candidates were putting up a better fight, which made the support for the two main runners fail to increase. Three minor candidates, including Democratic Labor Party's Kwon Young-ghil are gaining support, Korea Gallpup vice manager Heo Jin-jase said, adding this factor seems to have lowered support for Lee and Roh. (Hong Young-lim, ylhong@chosun.com )